'National Fire Truck Passage Training' to be Conducted Tomorrow at 2 PM

Civil Defense Training Linked with Eulji Exercise

The National Fire Agency announced on the 22nd that on the 23rd at 2 p.m., a nationwide simultaneous fire truck lane-clearing drill will be conducted in connection with the 2023 Eulji Exercise and Civil Defense Training.

This drill will last for 15 minutes, and each fire station nationwide will select one section within approximately 15 km, such as areas with heavy traffic congestion or narrow roads like traditional markets where fire truck passage is difficult, to conduct an actual dispatch drill.

Each fire station will use command vehicles, pump trucks, tank trucks, ambulances, etc., and cooperate with related organizations such as the police, military, and local governments. The drill will be conducted by actually driving through the training section when the civil defense training air raid alarm is issued.

The main contents of the drill include ▲activation of emergency lights and sirens ▲broadcasting instructions on lane-clearing techniques for the lead vehicle ▲encouraging actual experience of yielding by general vehicles ▲promoting joint training with civilian personnel and equipment to establish a public-private cooperation system for securing emergency routes.

The National Fire Agency provides the following guidelines for yielding to emergency vehicles: ▲(Intersections) Vehicles in motion must temporarily stop at the right edge of the road ▲(One-way streets) Temporarily stop at the right edge of the one-way street ▲(One-lane roads) Drive or temporarily stop by yielding the lane as much as possible to the right edge ▲(Two-lane roads) General vehicles yield by driving in the second lane so that emergency vehicles can use the first lane ▲(Three or more lanes) General vehicles yield by driving in the first lane (left) and third lane (right) so that emergency vehicles can use the second lane ▲(Crosswalks) Pedestrians must stop briefly at the crosswalk when an emergency vehicle is approaching.

Meanwhile, according to Article 21, Paragraph 3 of the Fire Services Act (Priority passage of fire vehicles, etc.), failing to yield to fire vehicles, cutting in front of or blocking fire vehicles, or any other acts that hinder fire vehicle dispatch are subject to a fine of up to 2 million KRW.

Kim Jo-il, Director of the 119 Response Bureau at the National Fire Agency, said, “This drill is prepared to ensure the rapid arrival of emergency vehicles such as fire trucks at disaster and accident sites including fires, rescues, and medical emergencies,” and added, “We hope the public will also be alert on the day of the drill and actively participate in yielding lanes to fire trucks.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.